Electric metering device



G. C. BROWN ELECTRIC METERING DEVICE Aug. 19., 1924.

Filed May 22 ,-193g mim l wlwi iiiilui .Meler' Patented Aug. 19, 1924,

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ELECTRIC METERING nnvronl j Application filed may 22, 1922. Serial No. 562,631.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, Gronen CARLTON BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Metering Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference belng had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric metering devices and more particularly to those which combine a movable element'operated from the electric current used by the consumer and a time element which accomplishes setting of the movable element at definite intervals.

Such meters are used to indicate -maximum demand of the consumer, andin the usual form of meter the movable member operates on a friction arrow or the like, which stays wherever it is moved. Thus if a movable arrow is swung through an arc and returned every fifteen minutes during a metering interval, the friction arrow will swing over its arc, and at the end of the interval will show by its position the greatest movement of the movable member for any fifteen minute interval. of a month.

The difliculty with such maximum demand meters is that they depend upon the timing device remaining in operation as long as the electric meter is in operation.

If the clock should run down or stop and more than a fifteen-minute interval be permitted to lapse prior to a resetting, then the friction worthless. I

It is the object of my invention to provide a combined electrically operated memberand a time resetting device so interlocked or arranged that the electrically operated member will stop moving when the time device stops. In a device constructed according to my invention, the reading of maximum demand at the end of an interval between meter examinations will be proper even if the time device has stopped during the elapsed time. The maximum demand reading will be for a less period than the time between examinations, but so far as it goes, it will give actual maximum demand for the period that the meter was running.

arrow indication would be- There are a number of difierent kinds of meters, to all of which my invention with mechanical alterations could be applied. In my specification I have selectedfor indication one accepted form of demand meter, which ismerely one of a large number and should be taken as such.

I accomplish my objects by that certain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically pointed out and claimed. I i I -In the drawings,wthe figure is a partially diagrammatic, isometric perspective view of a device constructed according to my invention. a

Referring to the drawing, the electromagnet 1 is arranged so as to attract an armature .2. The current source .for the electro-magnet is applied through conductors ,3 and 4, with the conductor t separated from the conductor 4* to complete the circuit by a gap 5, which is closed by'the.

operation of a rotary energymeter-driven member 6. This method of energizing the electro-magnet is not original with me.

The armature carries a pawl 7 ,which engages in the teeth of a ratchet 8, thereby rotating it step by .stepas' the armature is attracted and released. Onthe arbor 9 of the'ratchet'B is located apinion 10 held slidablybut non-rotatably on the arbor; A grooved collar 11 is fastenedto this pinion by means of which it is moved alongon the arbor into and out. otmesh.

The pinion 10 drives the gear 12, which in turn drivesthe gear lgfhy means of a small pinion 14. The gear 13 is on an arbor 14E, which is spring-held'by a spring 15, which, as thearb or turns,is placed under tension. Onthe upper endof'this arbor is a finger 16, which moves with it, this finger imparting motion to a friction arrow 17 The arrow 17 moving overthe diallS gives the, maximum demand indication desired; When the slidable pinion 1O ismoved upwardly on" its arbor,"the mesh with the gear '12'is dis-established,so that the spring having a cam face 22, which moves the free end of the lever down at the desired interval, thereby permitting a return of the tinger 16.

An arbor 23 is shown, which is driven by any desired timing device,

-having a hooked end, which moves adjacent the periphery of a ratchet 36 on the arbor 33. Thus every time the electric energy driven armature is operated, the hooked end of'the finger moves into position behind one of the teeth on the ratchet. The

ratchet turns countersclockwise and unless the timing mechanism is operated, it will hold the hooked finger fast. Thus when ever the armature moves to actuate the registering device, the hook comes into engagement with the ratchet, and is released by the clock revolving the ratchet and let ting the hook slip ofi the tooth with which it i s in engagement.

The demand metering device is thus so arranged that when the time resetting mechanism stops, the electrically operated meter portions may continue to move but will not transmit any motion to the registering devices. r

There are, as has been stated, different forms of meters. which use time devices, and my invention is applicable to any kind of a meter using a time device and an electrically operated device.

Having thus described ,my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A clock, constant speed motor, or other means may be by said electric driven means after each operation thereof, and means dependent npon'the continuous operation of sald tlme device for rendering said preventive means inactive.

In combination, a registering device, means for intermittently operating said registering device, a time device co-operative with said means in operating on the registering device and locking means, the release of which is dependent upon the continuous operation of the time device, for

momentarily preventing the operation of said registering device by said 1I1t6Tn1li3- tently operating means after each operation thereof.

In combination with a registering de vice, electric-driven means for operating the registering device, a time device co operative therewith to act upon. the registering device, and means adapted to inhibit the driving connection between the electricdriven means and the registering device npon a stopping of the time device, said means comprising a member moving continuously under influence of the time device, and a latch adapted to engage said member and be released thereby as the member moves, said latch member being adapted to hold the electrical-driven means out'of operation. I

5. in combination with a registering de* vice, electric-driven means for operating the registering device, a time device cooperative therewith to act upon the registering device, and means adapted to inhibit the driving connection between the electric--' driven means and the registering device upon a stoppingof the time device, a ratchet under control of the time device, hooked linger on the electric-driven means, said finger adapted to engage the ratchet and to be released by the ratchet as it moves, said finger being secured to the electric-driven device.

6. A maximum demand meter comprising a friction arrow, and a moving member to actuate it, means for resetting the moving member, electro-magnetic means having an armature actuating the moving member, said resetting means comprising a time device, toothed member revolved by the time device, a hooked finger on the armature adapted to engage the toothed membernpon each armature operation, said toothed member being moved in a direction to release the hook, as and for the purpose described.

. snonen CARLTON BROWN. 

